Structure-borne sound and vibration sensor

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a sound and vibration sensor is provided. The sound and vibration sensor includes a housing, a piezo-diaphragm, and a flexible support plate. The piezo-diaphragm is positioned in the housing to detect an input signal including audio or vibrations. The flexible support plate receives the piezo-diaphragm to enable the sensor to exhibit a frequency response with a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to detecting the audio or the vibrations on the input signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sound and vibration sensor comprising:
 a housing; 
 a piezo-diaphragm positioned in the housing to detect an input signal including audio or vibrations; 
 a flexible support plate to receive the piezo-diaphragm to enable the sensor to exhibit a frequency response with a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to detecting the audio or the vibrations on the input signal, 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes a mounting post extending therefrom and being configured to receive the piezo-diaphragm to support the piezo-diaphragm in the housing; and 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes an extending portion that extends from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing, and wherein the extending portion extends outwardly from the mounting post, and 
 a substrate plate to directly receive the piezo-diaphragm thereon, and wherein the mounting post receives the substrate plate with the piezo-diaphragm. 
 
     
     
       2. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting post is flexible or rigid. 
     
     
       3. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the extending portion has a variable thickness. 
     
     
       4. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the extending portion defines at least one perforation formed therein. 
     
     
       5. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the extending portion is flexible. 
     
     
       6. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate plate, the mounting post, and the extending portion define a cavity. 
     
     
       7. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 6  further comprising a damping mechanism positioned in the cavity to dampen a resonance peak amplitude of a frequency response of the sound and vibration sensor. 
     
     
       8. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the input signal corresponds to an audio input signal in the form of an audio command that is transmitted from an exterior of a vehicle or from an interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the piezo-diaphragm and the flexible support plate form a two-degree of freedom (DOF) system that provides the frequency response with a plurality of resonant frequencies. 
     
     
       10. A sound and vibration sensor comprising:
 a housing; 
 a single piezo-diaphragm positioned in the housing to detect an input signal including audio or vibrations; and 
 a flexible support plate to support the single piezo-diaphragm to enable the sensor to exhibit a frequency response with a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to detecting the audio or the vibrations on the input signal, 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes a mounting post extending therefrom and being configured to receive the single piezo-diaphragm to support the piezo-diaphragm in the housing, 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes an extending portion that extends from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing, and wherein the extending portion extends outwardly from the mounting post, and 
 wherein the extending portion is flexible. 
 
     
     
       11. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting post is flexible or rigid. 
     
     
       12. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the extending portion has a variable thickness. 
     
     
       13. The sound and vibration sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the extending portion defines at least one perforation formed therein. 
     
     
       14. A sound and vibration sensor comprising:
 a housing; 
 a piezo-diaphragm positioned in the housing to detect an input signal having audio or vibrations; 
 a flexible support plate to receive the piezo-diaphragm, 
 wherein the piezo-diaphragm and the flexible support plate form a two degree of freedom (DOF) system that enables the sensor to exhibit a frequency response with two resonant frequencies in response to the input signal; and 
 wherein the input signal corresponds to an audio input signal in the form of an audio command that is transmitted from an exterior of a vehicle or from an interior of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. A sound and vibration sensor comprising:
 a housing; 
 a piezo-diaphragm positioned in the housing to detect an input signal including audio or vibrations; and 
 a flexible support plate to receive the piezo-diaphragm to enable the sensor to exhibit a frequency response with a plurality of resonant frequencies in response to detecting the audio or the vibrations on the input signal, 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes a mounting post extending therefrom and being configured to receive the piezo-diaphragm to support the piezo-diaphragm in the housing; 
 wherein the flexible support plate includes an extending portion that extends from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing, and wherein the extending portion extends outwardly from the mounting post; and 
 wherein the extending portion has a variable thickness.